By Memory Chamisa
Zimbabwe’s Climate Adaptation Communication document launched on the sidelines of the climate summit, COP27 in Egypt this Thursday has confirmed a low carbon and resilience trajectory the country is pursuing.
Launching the National Adaptation Communication to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change on the sidelines of the ongoing COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, the Minister of Environment, Climate Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Honourable Mangaliso Ndlovu highlighted the significance of the document and what it entails in mobilising funding for Zimbabwe.
“The Adaptation Communication is an important part of the architecture for achieving the mitigation and adaptation goals of the Paris Agreement and mobilising sufficient finance flows for climate resilient development for countries. The process towards the development of Zimbabwe’s Adaptation Communication that we are gathered today to launch, finalise and submit to the UNFCCC started some two years ago. This Adaptation communication contributes to the country’s vision of developing in a low carbon and resilient trajectory,” he said.
Development partners in attendance commended Zimbabwe for coming up with a document that speaks to other communications on climate change adaptation.
“As COMESA, we recently concluded a document we have worked with Zimbabwe in a number of projects and we are impressed by the adaptation strategies that they have implemented so far,” a representative of COMESA said.
Other partners weighed in, “The Map Global Network is very pleased to have supported Zimbabwe in coming up with this document as it feeds into all other resilient programmes.”
“We are delighted to work with Zimbabwe and other global networks in developing countries as we in the UK we are still working on our adaptation documents and it’s pleasing to note that you have managed to launch yours here at COP27.”
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development has launched the Zimbabwe Climate Change Gender Action Plan, with focus on gender-mainstreaming climate change interventions.
“Mainstreaming gender in climate change plays a significant role in achieving sustainable development goals because of its inclusive matter The action plan seeks to support the country vision of an upper Middle income economy that leaves no place and no one behind especially women and youths, as they are the ones hit hardest by the effects of climate change as they go about their chores, fetching water, looking for pastural grazing land, farming,”| noted Dr Sithembiso Nyoni, the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development.
According to the Climate Pact of 2021 made at last year’s COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland it is imperative for countries to implement Action Plans on climate change mitigation, taking into consideration gender, women and youth empowerment dynamics.
